Mixing machine



Dec. 30', 1941. T EL 2,268,038

' MIXING MACHINE Filed Nov. 16, 1940 A INVENTOR jx/orberf Knz' He L.

ATTCJRNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE one-thirdto Werner G. 0. Frank and one-third to Fred A. Landgraber, both ofBloomfield,

Application November 16, 1940, Serial No. 365,856

9 Claims.

This invention relates to mixers and, more particularly, to a mixer formixing liquids or for mixing a solid or semi-solid matter and a liquid.

In the past'in devices of this character many parts were required, suchas baffles or stirring blades, which parts notonly make the machinediflicult to clean but, generally, such mixers were merely anelaboration upon a stirring operation, whichoperation is not fullyefficient. It is also usuaLafter mixing, that the mixture be drawn offby gravity orsepar-ate pumping mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mixing devicewhich will dissolve solid or semi-solids and a liquid by mixing the sameand commix liquids in a manner to secure uniform dispersion throughout.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a mixing device whichhasfew parts, which parts may be readily removed for cleaning and themachine cleaned quickly and easily.

A further object of the invention is to provide Figure 2 is a plan viewtaken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the top of the rotor;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of said rotor;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the connection between the hub of therotor and the rotatable shaft.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The invention comprises a container or mixing tank Ill, having anopening II in the bottom thereof, below which is formed an auxiliarychamber I2.

Within the opening [2 is a rotor plate l3, the

periphery of which. is closely adjacent the side of I the opening H. Therotor l3 comprises a hub I4 a mixing machine in which the mixed contentsmay bequickly removed from the machine through operation of the mixingmechanism.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mixing machinein which the contents are agitated in a container and passed to anauxiliary chamber, there to be forced back into the container,recirculated and mixed.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious or will appear during thecourse of the following specification.

The objects of thepresent invention are. accomplished by providing atank which acts as a mixing chamber, said tank having an opening in thebottom thereof, below which is an auxiliary cover to theauxiliarychamber is a rotor plate having agitator blades ,inthe centralportion thereof, projecting into the tank. Around the blades is a rimhaving louvres formed therein which extend through the rotor and are incommunication with the auxiliary chamber. On the bottom of the rotor andprojecting into the auxiliary chamber is a plurality of impeller vanes.The rotor is mounted on a rotatable shaft which may be driven by anydesirable means. The auxiliary chamber is in communication with the tankthrough, an opening adjacent the periphery of the rotor. The auxiliarychamber is also in connection with a valve controlled outlet.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly broken away to show the rotorplate;

rality of louvres I! which project upwardly from and extend through saidrim I6 forming openings between the container 10 and the auxiliarychamber l2.

On the bottom of the rim l6 of the rotor l3 and extending from the innerto the outer edge thereof are formed a plurality of impeller vanes l8which project into the auxiliary chamber l2 The rotor I3 is mounted on arotatable shaft l9 which is driven by any desirable source, such as amotor M, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing. The drive shaft l9 hasaflangeZfl formed thereon on which the bottom surface of the hub l4rests. Adjacent the top of the shaft is a pin l9a which projects fromdiametrically opposite sides of said shaft.

The hub M has diametrically opposite slots 2i adapted to receive the pinI9a, as the rotor is placed on the shaft I9. I

The top surface of the hub has two oppositely disposed helicallyinclined cam surfaces22 and 23, having shoulders 24 and 25 formedtherebetween. When the bottom surface ofthe hub l4 rests .upon theflange 20, the pins 19a project outwardly over the cam surfaces 22 and23 at their lowest points. By turning the rotor I3 in a clockwisedirection, as illustrated in the drawing, so that. the higher portion ofthe inclined cam surfaces are brought into contact with the pins I900,the rotor is firmly fastened and held in the drive shaft l9.

Formed in the bottom of the tank It] and in the side wall of the chamberl2 at the periphery thereof is a slot 28 which is in communicationWith'the chamber l2 which forms a port therebetweenand the interior ofthe tank III. A discharge'outlet 29 is connected to the auxiliarychamber l2, said outlet having a valve 30 therein, which is used to openand close said outlet. A strainer 3| may be connected to the outlet sideof the valve. If desired a pipe may be fastened to the outlet side ofthe valve for the purpose of distributing the mixed contents,

When it is desired to use the device of this invention the liquids to bemixed, or the liquids and. solids which are to be mixed are placedwithin the tank The motor M is then started which, as shown by way ofexample in the drawing, rotates the rotor I 3 in a counterclockwisedirection. The tank I0 is preferablyrectangue lar or square. Since theaction of the rotor tends to whirl the contents of the tank, the cornersof the 'square tank breaks the swirl which helps to break-up andthoroughly mix the ingredients.

As the rotor 53 is rotated, the agitator blades I5 whirl the product inthe tank ll] forcing it, through centrifugal force, toward the side ofthe tank. A portion of the mixture at the bottom of the tank l0 passesdownwardly between the agitator blades l5 whereit comes in contact withthe impeller vanes IS in the auxiliary chamber i2, such contact causingthe product, through centrifugal force, to be forced to the outer edgeof the chamber, the impeller vanes I8 at the same time forcefullyimpelling the product being mixed, out of the auxiliary chamber 12upwardlythrough the slot 28 and 'by'assuring a complete and thoroughdispersion of all of the mixture in the tank.

The'louvres vI'll agitate the mixture, chopping or breaking any solid.matter with which they come. in contact and also pass a portion of theproduct being mixed into the chamber 12.

'The openings provided in the rotor 13 "through the louvres I! preventexcess pressure being built up in the chamber l2 by the impeller vanesI8 and thus prevents overheating of the mixture which is verydetrimental to some mixtures, for example, when yeast is being dissolvedin water. Any excess pressure is released upwardly through the louvres.

In emptying the tank in, the valve 30 is opened, the impeller vanes l8then forcing the mixture which'enters theauxiliary chamber [2 a betweenthe agitator blades l5 and through the louvres I! through the outlet 29serving to pump the mixture from the tank quickly.

When it is desired to clean the mixing device of this invention, it mayeasily and quickly be done by turning the rotor in a counter-clockwisedirection, so that the pins I90. are released from the portions of thecam surfaces 23 andZd and are brought adjacent the slots 2! in the hub.The rotor may then belifted from the shaft l9.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations rotor plate rotatablymounted in said auxiliary chamber the periphery thereof registering withthe edge of said opening and acting as a cover to said auxiliarychamber, agitator blades on the top of said rotor plate and projectinginto said containerja plurality of louvres disposed on the top of saidplate and, extending therethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes on thebottom of said plate, projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a port inthe bottom of said container adjacent the peripheryof said rotorconnecting said chamber and said container, and means for rotating saidplate.

2. In a mixing machine, a rectangular shaped container having an openingin the bottom thereof and an auxiliary chamber positioned below saidopening, a rotor plate rotatably mounted in said auxiliary chambertheperiphery registering with the edge of saidopening and acting as a'coverto said auxiliary chamber, agitator blades on'the top of said rotorplate and projecting into said container, a plurality of louvresdisposed on the top of said plate and extending therethrough, aplurality of impeller varies on the bottom of said plate, projectingintosaid auxiliary chamber, a 'port inthe j bottom of said containeradjacent the periphery of said rotor connecting said chambenand saidcontainer, and means for rotatingsaid plate.

3. In a mixing machine, a container having an opening in the bottomthereof and an auxiliary chamber position below said opening, a valvecontrolled discharge outlet connected to said auxiliary chamber, a rotorplate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and saidcontainer and acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, agitatorblades on the top of said rotor plate and projecting into saidcontainer, a plurality-of louvres disposed on the top of said plate andextending therethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottom ofsaid plate, projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a

port in the bottom of said container, adjacent the periphery, of saidrotor connecting said chamber and said container, and means for rotatingsaid plate. a

, 4. In a mixingmachine, a container having an opening in thebottomthereof and an auxiliary chamber position'below said opening, a valvecontrolled discharge outlet'connected to said auxiliary chamber, arotorplate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and saidcontainer acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, 'said rotorcomprising an annular rim, agitator blades extending radially betweenthe central portion of said rotor and said rim and projecting into saidcontainer, a plurality of louvres disposed on the top of said rimandextending there through, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottomof said plate projecting into said auxiliary chamber, a port in thebottom of said container adjacent the periphery of said rotor connectingsaid chamber and said container, and means for rotating said plate.

5. In a mixing machine, a container having an opening in the bottomthereof and an auxiliary chamber position below said opening, a valvecontrolled discharge outlet connected to said auxiliary chamber, a rotorplate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and saidcontainer acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, said rotorcomprising a hub. and an annular rim, agitator blades extending radiallytween said chamber and said container adjacent the periphery of said rimand in communication with said chamber, and means for rotating saidplate.

6. In a mixing machine, a container having an opening in the bottomthereof and an auxiliary chamber position below said opening, a valvecontrolled discharge outlet connected to said auxiliary chamber, a rotorplate rotatably mounted between said auxiliary chamber and saidcontainer acting as a cover to said auxiliary chamber, agitator bladeson the top of said rotor plate and projecting into said container, aplurality of louvres disposed on the top of said plate and extendingtherethrough, a plurality of impeller vanes on the bottom of said plateprojecting into said auxiliary chamber, a hub on said rotor having twooppositely disposed helically inclined cam surfaces on the top surfaceand diametrically opposite keyways therethrough, a drive shaft having aflange thereon to engage the bottom surface of said hub said drive shafthaving diametrically opposite projecting pins adapted to engage said camsurfaces, means for driving said shaft, and a port in the bottom of saidcontainer adjacent the periphery of said rotor and in communication withsaid chamber.

'7. A rotor plate adapted to be rotatably disposed in an opening in thebottom of a container having an auxiliary chamber below said opening theperiphery of said plate being adapted to register with the edge of theopening said rotor comprising an annular rim, agitator blades projectingfrom one side of said rotor extending radially between the centralportion of said rotor and said rim, a plurality of louvres disposed onthe rim of said rotor on the said side thereof and extendingtherethrough, and a plurality of impeller vanes projecting from theopposite side of said plate.

8. A rotor plate adapted to be rotatably disposed in an opening in thebottom of a container having-an auxiliary chamber below said opening theperiphery of said plate being adapted to register with the edge of theopening, said rotor comprising a hub and an annular rim, agitator bladesprojecting from one side of said rotor and extending radially betweensaid hub and said rim, a plurality of louvres disposed on the rim ofsaid rotor on the said one side thereof and extending therethrough, anda plurality of impeller vanes projecting from the opposite side of saidplate and extending from said hub to the periphery of said rim.

9. A rotor plate adapted to be rotatably disposed in an opening in thebottom of a container having an auxiliary chamber below said opening theperiphery of said plate being adapted to register with the edge of theopening said rotor comprising a hub and an annular rim, agitator bladesprojecting from one side of said rotor and extending radially betweensaid hub and said rim, a plurality of louvres disposed on the rim ofsaid rotor on the said one side thereof and extending therethrough, aplurality of impeller vanes projecting from the opposite side of saidplate, two oppositely disposed helically inclined cam surfaces on thetop surface of hub.

NORBERT KNITTEL.

